ed all
sorts of fantastic attitudes in their dreams so that they awoke tired
and depressed.

But there was little time on that morning to indulge in private griefs.
The fight was on, and shortly after dawn the battle was resumed.

All the forenoon it raged with great ferocity. But American grit and
steadfastness never wavered and the enemy was forced to retire with
heavy loss. Not only had they failed to drive the Americans from their
positions, but they had been driven back and forced to surrender a
large portion of their own, including the place where Frank had
crouched in the shell hole the night before.

Shortly after noon there came a lull while the Americans reorganized
the captured positions. Infantry actions ceased, though the big guns,
like belligerent mastiffs, still kept up their growling at each other.

"Hot work," remarked Frank, as, after their work was done, the three
friends found themselves together in the shade of a great tree.

"A corking scrap," agreed Bart, as he sprawled at his ease with his
hands under his head.

"The Heinies certainly put up a stiff fight," observed Billy, as he
tied up his little finger from which blood was trickling.

"They felt so sure that they were going to make mincemeat out of us
that it was hard to wake out of their dream," chuckled Frank. "I
wonder if they're still kidding themselves in Berlin that the Yankees
can't fight."

"In Berlin perhaps but not here," returned Bart. "They've had too much
evidence to the contrary."

"I wonder if this is really the beginning of the big drive that the
Huns have been boasting about?" hazarded Billy.

"I hardly think so," replied Frank. "There's no doubt that that's
coming before long, but the fighting yesterday and today was probably
to pinch us out of the salient we're holding. That would straighten
out their line and then they'd be all ready for the big push. When
that comes there will be some doings."

"The longer they wait the harder the job will be," said Billy. "They
say that our boys are coming over so fast that they're fairly blocking
the roads."

"They can't come too many or too fast," replied Bart. "And they'll
sure be some busy bees after they get here."

"Well, we're not worrying," observed Billy. "We're getting along
pretty well, thank you. By the way, Frank," he went on with a grin,
"are you feeling any different on this ground today than you felt last
night?"

"Bet your life," laughed Fran